Drink-driving OAP gets 13-month ban

Jedburgh Sheriff Court

A pensioner who was found to be more than double the legal alcohol limit has been banned from the road for 13 months and fined £300.

First offender John McKenzie, 67, of Loan, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened in Boonraw Road on March 29.

Depute fiscal Claire Bottomley told Jedburgh Sherif Court: ”It was 4pm on a Friday when police received an anonymous telephone call about a suspecteddrink-driver leaving Wetherspoon’s in Hawick. The vehicle was traced at 4.10pm and found to be driven by the accused. At 4.30pm he failed a roadside breath test and was taken to the police station.”

The lower reading at the station was 79 microgrammes of alcohol – the legal limit being 35.

Defence lawyer Rory Bannerman said his client was 67 years of age and had no previous record. He added: “He looks upon this as a blemish on a good life and is ashamed at what occurred.”

Sheriff Kevin Drummond said:”It is a matter of public safety.”

He recommended McKenzie for the drink-driver’s rehabilitation course which would mean a 25 per cent discount on the length of ban if completed at his own expense.